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cock of the walk

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cock of the walk

–noun
the leader in a group, esp. one with a conceited, domineering manner.

Origin:
1850–55
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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cock 1   (kŏk)   
n.  
    1. An adult male chicken; a rooster.

    2. An adult male of various other birds.

    3. The hammer of a firearm.

    4. The position of the hammer of a firearm when ready for firing.

  1. A weathervane shaped like a rooster; a weathercock.

  2. A leader or chief.

  3. A faucet or valve by which the flow of a liquid or gas can be regulated.

    1. The hammer of a firearm.

    2. The position of the hammer of a firearm when ready for firing.

  4. A tilting or jaunty turn upward: the cock of a hat.

  5. Vulgar Slang The penis.

  6. Archaic The characteristic cry of a rooster early in the morning.

v.   cocked, cock·ing, cocks

v.   tr.
  1. To set the hammer of (a firearm) in a position ready for firing.

  2. To set (a device, such as a camera shutter) in a position ready for use.

  3. To tilt or turn up or to one side, usually in a jaunty or alert manner: cocked an eyebrow in response to a silly question.

  4. To raise in preparation to throw or hit: cocked the bat before swinging at the pitch.

v.   intr.
  1. To set the hammer of a firearm in a position ready for firing.

  2. To turn or stick up.

  3. To strut; swagger.


[Middle English cok, from Old English cocc, probably from Late Latin coccus, from coco, a cackling, of imitative origin.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Idioms & Phrases

cock of the walk

A conceited, bossy person, as in Since his last promotion he's been acting like the cock of the walkhe's unbearable. This expression alludes to the rooster's proud strut about the barnyard, asserting his rule over hens and chicks. [Mid-1800s]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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